Defense
Panel supports changes to Coast Guard modernization
Bill would require the agency to remove an industry team as the troubled project’s lead systems integrator within four years.
Defense
Immigration bill blocked as Senate undecideds join foes
Supporters fall 14 votes short of the 60 needed to limit debate.
Oversight
Agencies processing discrimination complaints faster
Complaints are taking longer once they reach the EEOC, however.
Defense
Lawmakers push Homeland Security to track visitor departures
Agency says it plans to have exit element in place by 2009.
Pay & Benefits
House backs 3.5 percent civilian pay raise
The White House says "arbitrary" across-the-board increase will cost agencies more than $600 million in fiscal 2008.
Defense
Panel moves to help State handle influx of passport requests
Measure waives an earlier congressional mandate that all new hires be used to fill State Department vacancies in Iraq and Afghanistan.
Defense
Locals pan DHS decision to ditch communications project
County officials upset by phase-out of tool to distribute disaster management software and establish interoperability standards.
Oversight
Budget office paints grim fiscal portrait of flood insurance program
Program's debt was $17.5 billion as of May; Congress has authorized FEMA to borrow $20.8 billion from the Treasury.
Pay & Benefits
FAA reauthorization bill to move without labor agreement
Committee Democrats may offer an amendment that would support union's position to retroactively require binding arbitration.
Pay & Benefits
Health Savings Shortfalls
A look at how health savings accounts could affect comprehensive health plans.
Defense
Military stifles Web-based health records system
Defense medical agencies place priority on systems costing hundreds of times as much.
Oversight
Nominee to lead OMB faces difficulty in Senate
Budget committee chairman won’t commit to a vote; Democrats are concerned Jim Nussle would be unapproachable.
Defense
Panel finds mixed results for effort to train Iraqi forces
Democrats complain of "considerable difficulties" in getting information and documents from the Defense Department during the review.
Defense
Border tech program is plagued by early setbacks
First phase of program, which entails deploying mobile surveillance towers, misses deadline for becoming operational.
Defense